‘Sex’ leads summer’s female-anchored films

When it comes to movies, no one plunks down more cash than women.

Yet few films, particularly in the crucial summer season, are geared for them – or even have them in lead roles.

That’s about to change today as “Sex and the City” opens amid a frenzy of promotion, and sharp disagreement over how it will fare at theaters.

It’s the first of several female-anchored movies headed to the screen this summer, including:

•”Kit Kittredge: American Girl” (June 20), the first big-screen tale based on the popular dolls.

•”Mamma Mia!” (July 18), the musical starring Meryl Streep about a bride-to-be who searches for her real father.

•”The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2” (Aug. 8), which continues the journey of four young women into adulthood.

•”The Accidental Husband” (Aug. 22), a comedy with Uma Thurman as a radio talk-show adviser.

•”The House Bunny” (Aug. 22), with Anna Faris giving tips on everything from makeup to men to sorority girls.

“There’s a lot of estrogen this summer,” says Steve Mason, head analyst for the box-office site FantasyMoguls.com.

“Sex and the City,” he says, “could open a lot of doors if it’s big, which I think it will be.”

Others are less convinced.

“I’d be surprised if it opens to more than $25 million or does more than $100 million (overall),” says Jeff Bock of Exhibitor Relations. “For one thing, it’s rated R, so you rule out teen girls and repeat viewings.”

Bert Livingston of 20th Century Fox says naysayers are underestimating female audiences.

“With gas and everything else so expensive, movies are about the cheapest date you can go on,” he says.

“And who do you think makes the decision on what they’re going to see? It usually isn’t the guys.”